FREE and almost free things to do with kids in Sacramento!
Click on the activity links for more details. You can also check out our Calendar Page for free upcoming events.
1. STORYTIMES – Stories, songs and crafts for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers at Libraries and Barnes & Noble.
2. STORYTIME AT BIG SPOON YOGURT – Stories and free frozen yogurt.
3. LIBRARY EVENTS – entertainment, arts & crafts, parties, and more.
4. CAPITOL AQUARIUM – Closed – will update soon
5. COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE – Small Visitor Center and two nature trails.
6. NIMBUS FISH HATCHERY – Feed the salmon, Visitor Center and Hiking. (Nickels for fish food)
7. SAC STATE AQUATIC CENTER – Right by the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. Lake Natoma beach area for swimming and picnicing. Open to the public if there are no reservations. (No parking fee). If not available, go to NIMBUS STATE FLATS – the beach area across the lake. Swim and picnic. ($7.00 parking fee)
8. EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER – Large Nature Center and Hiking. ($5.00 parking donation requested)
9. DAVIS ARBORETUM – Nature Trails, feed the ducks, picnic, guided tours. ($6.00 parking fee Mon – Fri only)
10. PLACER NATURE CENTER – Exhibits Halls, Discovery Labaratory, History Garden, and Nature Trail
11. JELLY BELLY FACTORY – Tour of the factory on weekdays and free jelly beans.
12. HAGAN PARK PETTING BARN & Miniature Steam TRAIN RIDES – Pet the barn animals and ride the train behind the barn.
13. OLD SACRAMENTO – Scavenger Hunt at the TrailMix.net store, Wells Fargo History Museum & the Schoolhouse Museum, free candy at Candy Heaven.
14. MCKINLEY PARK – Feed the ducks, picnic, great playground, rose garden.
15. DISCOVERY PARK – Where the Sacramento and American Rivers meet. Swim, picnic, walk, bike, boating. ($5.00 parking fee)
16. CAPITOL MUSEUM – Take a guided or self-guided tour through the Capitol.
17. THE FOUNTAINS AT ROSEVILLE – Toddler sprayground, playground. Free Train Rides every Tuesday.
18. KIDS CLUB AT SUNRISE MALL – Crafts, entertainment, and more. Every Thursday
19. KIDS CLUB AT ARDEN MALL – Monthly entertainment.
20. HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOPS – Learn to build a special project. 1st Saturday of each month
21. LOWE’S BUILD AND GROW CLINICS – Learn to build a special project. 2 Saturdays each month
22. PLAY POOLS – public pools for toddlers and preschoolers. Summer
23. SPRAYGROUNDS – Water features at local parks. Summer
Written by Keilah Woodard
My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!
